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Sunday, October 7, 2007
The North Port Sun
Our Town
North Port Editor - Elaine Allen-Emrich 941-429-3003    
www.sun-herald.com
In Shipps Shape
Developer is North Port Business Person of the Year
 
 
NORTH PORT -- A night that began with a few jokes razzing the city manager, Commission Chair Barbara Gross and anyone from New Jersey, ended with naming a community-friendly developer the Business Person of the Year.
Comedian and North Porter Gid Pool opened the annual North Port Area Chamber of Commerce Installation and Awards Banquet Friday at Heron Creek Golf and Country Club, citing current events in the city and elsewhere.
He joked that New Jersey, his wife's home state, was the only state to have a governor who was also the first lady.
Pool drew laughter when he poked fun at the absent city manager and the high cost of being a husband and 		grandparent.
However, it was Peter Shipps who stole the show after the 2006 Business Person of the Year Dr. Lee Gross announced that Shipps had earned the 2007 top honor.
Shipps, who heads Peter Shipps Design & Construction, was praised for preserving trees while constructing homes at the Villas at Charleston Park, Talon Bay and Sabal Trace.
Instead of tearing down trees for these developments, Shipps purposely designed around existing heritage trees to preserve the old Florida style.
He also utilized a tree bank, taking care during construction to relocate trees to a holding area where they are cared for until they can be transplanted elsewhere in the development.
   
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
 
New North Port Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Peter Shipps, center, shares a smile with his wife, Karen, and son, David, Friday after receiving the prestigious award.

Shipps was credited for doing more than just building homes and developments since 1976. His community service includes building a Habitat for Humanity home, actively participating
SHIPPS | P6
SHIPPS: Developer preserved tress  
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in the MDA lock-up in North Port, annual donations to the North Port YMCA, sponsoring the monthly Glenallen Elementary School newsletter and purchasing bicycles for the North Port Police Department School Resource Officer Division. He serves on the advisory committee for the city of North Port Emergency Services. He helped implement a new emergency access system for gated communities by police, fire and rescue vehicles. Shipps also serves on the chamber's building committee.
After receiving the award, Shipps explained that everyone has something unique to offer in North Port.
"It's how you plug your talents in to help improve your community that counts,"		 he told the chamber audience.
Among the other nominees were Adam Bartolotta of Reach Out International; Janet Bresky of Edward Jones Investments; Robert Cemovich of the law office of Robert Cemovich; George Charette of Medical Engineering Volunteers of America; Steve Matthews of Allstate Insurance; John Perry of Gator Water Analysis & Treatment, and Kevin Russell of W. Kevin Russell PA.
The friend of the year was awarded to Commissioner Fred Tower III for all his dedication to the chamber. The organization of the year honor was bestowed on the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice for giving millions of dollars to the North Port community 		and providing months of hardcore leadership training to local business leaders.
The president's award for a business that contributed to the community went to the Olde World Restaurant owners Christine Zagrobelny, her brother Joe Skoczylas and his wife Teresa. They continued on with the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in North Port this year after the late John Zagrobelny, a former Business Person of the Year and active chamber member and supporter passed away this year. John championed MDA in North Port for many years.
New officers were installed along with passing the gavel from former chamber president Kris Bilodeau of SunTrust Mortgage to new president Gene Pigott of Fireservice Inc.